Announcing the 2006 Lockwood design a lever winner.

Melbourne architect Toby Horrocks has won the 2006 Lockwood Design a Lever Competition jointly organised by the world’s leading lock group ASSA ABLOY and the Royal Australian Institute of Architects.

During the 2006 competition 145 professional architects and budding designers from Australia and New Zealand put aside their traditional work - at least temporarily - to design their own door levers. The competition which promotes Australian and New Zealand design and originality offers a unique and exciting opportunity by challenging architects and designers to create a lever for ASSA ABLOY’s iconic Lockwood brand.

“Many of our designs are already made in consultation with architects and the competition formalises this arrangement” said Tom Devine, General Manager for ASSA ABLOY’s commercial division in Australia. “The competition allows architects and members of the design fraternity the opportunity to get involved in another part of the design process.”

Submissions to the 2006 Lockwood Design a Lever Competition exceeded judges’ expectations in relation to excellence in design, with this year’s finalists all demonstrating the best in creativity.

According to Priya Kumar, Product Manager with ASSA ABLOY Australia and member of the judging panel, this year’s winner has gone beyond just designing a lever. Horrocks’ design exceeds the competition criteria for originality, creativity, design quality, presentation of concept, and ease of manufacture.

“The pioneering use of raw materials by Horrocks to minimise waste was an outstanding feature of the design. It is a given that we should all be ecologically aware and conscious of our footprint on the world. It is easy to make significant changes, we can use solar panels, be more frugal with water but at the same time we need to organise our homes and offices in order to improve our state of mind and our quality of life. With society becoming increasingly aware of the adverse impacts of wastage on the environment, Toby’s design recognises that the concept of sustainability can be applied to the design and manufacture of door handles that work for the individual as well as the collective good”, said Kumar.

For Toby Horrocks who competed against four other exceptional finalists, the win means his design may be manufactured by Lockwood for Australian and international markets. The win also means a trip to Scandinavia valued at $10,000.